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GENEALOGY
OF THK
WHEATLEY
WHEATLEIGH
FAMILY.
A HISTORY OF THE FAMILY IN ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
"To live iu lieartis tbut we leave beliiud is not to die."
COM I'll, HI I I'.V
HANNIBAL P. WHEATLEY, M. D-.:;*
"Title aud ancestry render a ^ood man more illustrious, but a li.'id man more conspicuous." — Addison.
4/3^
PTTBLISHEU HY
E. H. THOMAS, FARMINGTON, N.
1S03.
^ I 2. 7 O
ct<- t't
1 .' << "^
NATHANIEL WHEATLKY. (5(5)
liy liis iiivitiitioii, tlu' first fiimily r<'niii(>ii wus licld at Willow Grove, Brooklield, Vt., July, 187'.).
I
in;. II. 1'. \VHK.\TI,KY, (Kll) I'AKMINtiTON, N. H.
TO ALT^ PKRSOXS
WHKTHER LIVINa OR DKAD
WITO TTAVK IX ANY WAY COXTRIHUTKD
TO MAKK TUK
NAINIK OF WHEATI^KY
RKSPKCTAHI^E AXI> RKSPEC TKD,
THIS VOT.UMK
IS SIXCP^RELY IX\SCRIHED
15Y THE AUTHORS.
ABBEEVIATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS.
i
b. for born; d. for died; m. for married; bapt. for baptized^ res. for residence.
The three numerals over a sketch of an individual are ex-j plained as follows:
The first figure indicates the person's number. The Roman characters show in what generation he is, and the figure to the right is the number of the jjarent. Thus, on page (12), 3 II 1 Rev. Nathaniel Wheatleigh's number is 3; he is of the second generation; and son of No. 1 — John Wheatleigh. So one may^ start with the present generation and trace the line back to the first or any generation by the numbers.
INTRODUCTION.
The records embraced in tliis history do not assnine to be a full f^fcuealogy of the Wheatley family. They are, however, the result of more than twenty years of dilipfeut and perseveriu*^ efforts to make them correct and reliable. AVhere incom])lete, the fault is larpfely due to neglect of members of the branch slighted, to answer repeated requests for sketches and records.
The gathering' of material has been a task requiring gi'eat patience and much labor, correspondence and aiTanging of facts being largely done after the hour most peop'e were abed, such being the only leisiu-e hours, of the busy years of a ^diysiciaTi's life.
A few of the early records were collected by Luther Wheat- ley (b. 1783 d. 185!)). These were added to by Charlotte Wheatley Bowman (1824- 1882) and earned forward by Edith AVheatley AVilcox (1849-1881) whom I assisted, and I have l)rought forward her untinished task.
A large amount of history was gleaned with the aid of of- ficers of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston. The Genealogies published, of the AVingate, Boliins. Tenney, Perry and Loveland families have lieen searched for data, some portions having been taken from them bodily.
And I am under great obligations to Col. F. M. Kimball of Topeka, Kan., Dr. John R. Ham of Dover, N. H., Flora Wheat- ley Foss of Hardwick, Vt, and Col. Aiusworth of the Pension Bureau at "Washington, D. C, while the labors of Josei)hine A. Peavey of Farmington, N. H., in gathering and preparing the matei-ial for the press, has made possible the publication, at this time.
The personal examiuaticju of cliiircii, town and probate re- cords of several states has secured the cojinecting links of the present generation with theii" ancestors in this and the oM country.
6
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
There is a moral and philosopliical respect for our ancestors, which elevates the character and inspires the' heart. The pride of ancestry is the foundation of the pride of character, without which no man can be great.
Our family is eminently a domestic race; loving their homes and firesides; shunning notoriety; not aspiring to political or other jmblic favors; but faithful, honest, industrious and econ- omical. The rogue's gallery or the police rej^orts are the last places to look for a Wheatley. Rather disposed to keep their own counsel; and somewhat stubborn when opposed.
The family has an honorable record in all our country's wars, from the early colonial times. All four of Capt. John Wheatley's sons served in the Revolutionary army. The Revo- lutionary Rolls, State papers of several states, and the pension and war departments at Washington, have aided in fiu-nishing valuable history.
It seems that the Wheatleighs were Protestants early in the 17th century. In the fall of 1626, Charles I of England sent a naval force to Dieppe for the use of Lewis, King of France, against the Huguenots at La Rochelle. The sailors discovered his purpose and objected. They drew vip a remonstrance to Pennington, their commander, and signing all their names in a cii'cle lest he should discover the ring-leaders, they laid it under his prayer book.
This we believe to be the first record of a "Round Robin." In this circle we find the name of A. Wheatleigh, from Wells, Somerset, England. Admiral Pennington declared "that he would rather be hanged in England for disobedience, than fight against his brother Protestants on the continent." And the whole squadron sailed for home. But La Rochelle, the Hugue- nots headquarters, fell into the hands of the French in 1628, and they were scattered, many coming to Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. In these settlements were several Wheat- leighs. Many of their descendants still Hve in these localities. Three Wheatleys are known to have come to New England. Their posterity have scattered over these states, and spread to New York and the West.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
James "NVbeatleigh settled at Wetliers- field, Coun., iu 1088, Capt. Jobu Wheat- ley or Wlieatleigh settled in Norwich, Conn., in 1782, and merchant John Wheat- ley lived in Boston, Mass., from 1745 to 1774. James "NVbeatleigh assisted in drawing up a constitution for the govern- ment of Connecticut Colony, which was adoj^ted in January, 1(589. Among his papers we find the coat of arms here given.
Whether they are to be legitimately borne l)y the descen- dents of John Wheatley may be problematical.
This is not described in Burke's General Armory, although there are eight separate Wheatley arms and borne by ten differ- ent families, recorded in this Encyclopedia of Heraldry. The first one was granted by Edward III to John Wheatley Esq., of Castle-Bromwich, Co. Leicester, in 1856. About fifty years later his son William Wheatley Esq. gained additional favors from King Henry IV. William Wheatley Esq. left no son to bear the name, so the arms were preserved to his daughter Thomas- ine Wheatley, and she married John Dannot.
Records of coats of ai-ms of some other families mentionsd in this history can be found in the appendix. In Burke's Gen- eral Ai-mory there are records of families of the following names. Some have one or two, Avhile others have several. The Wood family has one hundi-ed and two records. They are : Abbott Allen, Archer, Austin, Bach, Barker, Barnes, Bell, Bowman, Brown, Carpenter, Clark, Craig, French, Foss, Hall, Hastings, Hodge, Hutchinson, Loveland, Paine, Pellet, Shepherd, Skinner, Waterman, Welch, Wheeler, White, Wilcox, Wingate and Wood.
Our branch being dii-ectly interested only in those of Sir Nathaniel Wheatley (11) of Frome, Somersetshire; and of Will- iam Wheatley Esq., (77) of Echingfield, Co. Sussex.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
The illustrations show the correct interpretation of the re- cords that are also given.
N. WHEATLEY. WM. WHEATLEY.
Wheatley (Frome, Co. Somerset, Sir Nathaniel Wheatley.) gu. a lion rampart ar. on a chief or. three mullets sa. Crest: A stag's head cabossed ppr.
Wheatley (Echingfield, Co. Sussex, William Wheatley, Esq.) per fess az. and or., a pule counter-changed, three lions ramp, regardant of the second. Crest: Two arms embowed, vested az. holding between the hands ppr. a garb or.
LANGUAGE OF HEEALDKY EXPLAINED.
Gu a lion rampant ar. On a red shield a silver lion in position shown. On a chief or. three Mullets sa. A chief is the upper third of the shield, gold in color on which are three black stars. Crest: A stags head cabossed ppr. Position shown of proper color.
Per fess az and or. The upper half of the shield is blue and the balance gold. The pale counter changed. A pale is a band per- pendicular occupying the middle third of the shield, counter changed calls for use of the color blue of fess extending down through the gold field with gold in the ujDper part of the pale. Three lions rampant regardant of the second. Their position as illus- trated facing backward, and the second color is gold.. Crest: Two arms embowed (position in picture) vested az (blue) holding be- tween the hands ppr (proper color), a garb or (a sheaf of wheat gold. )
ENGLISH GENEALOGY.
Correspomleuce with Hou. Henry "White, who is eliarpfe d' affaires at the U. S. Legation iu Loiidou, resulted iu arrauge- nieuts with Mr. A. B. Stevens of Trafalgar Scjuare, London, to search Enghsh records for the early history of the Wheatley family.
Mr. Stevens seems to have done the work faithfully, and traces the connection between the English and American branches of the family.
During the last century this once populous "NVheatley fam- ily of yeomen, seafaring and professional men have nearly dis- appeared from England, either having moved to America or died out. It is a inatter of pride to the name, that the family has retained its identity so long.
In Mr. Stevens' report of his investigation is much that does not directly interest this branch of the Wheatley family, but it may serve to fix the ancestry of many "Wheatleys, who came to America at earlier or later dates than Captain John, father of oiu" branch. Mr. Stevens worked back from John Wheatleigh, a Boston merchant who settled there in 174:5 but returned to England in the spring of 1774.
Iu volume I of the English "Genealogist" and "Somerset, Berkshire and other visitations," is to be found the pedigree of the Wheatleys springing from John and Thomas who appear to have been brothers. Many of the early records here given were taken from a book in the possession of Sir Harold "Wheatley, who lived in County Bedford and died in 1(577 about 8t) years of age. Later dates have been found in church records and probate registry of the different counties and in files of wills at Somer- set House and Doctors Commons.
The search of admiralt}' records gives names and some dates of those who served in the navy, but the English adjniralty records are very indefinite and incomplete. Therefore the identity of iudiv- "luals who thus served is only proved by parish records and the coincidence of names and periods.
10 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
Where there was room for a doubt about the identity of two or more records of the same individual, the doubtful items have been omitted.
The first trace of Wheatle3^s we have been able to find was in 1356, when Sir John Wheatley lived at Cast! e-Bromwich, Lei- cestershire, England. But at present we have been able to trace the genealogical chain unbroken only back to the brothers John and Thomas who came to the front after the campaigns of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, in Scotland and France in 1544-45. John served as captain and Thomas as a lieutenant. They obtained estates in 1547 at Frome and near Wells, not far from the Mendip Hills in Somersetshire.
In the i:)robate registry at Wells are filed the wills of John Wheatleigh (March 24, 1594) and his widow, Mary Wheatleigh, (April 20, 1595) which are as follows, viz:
WILL OF JOHN WHEATLEIGH OF TINGSBORO.
To Mary, my wife, to the use of six rooms of the East wing of my manor-house, with wheat, barley, etc., and the keeping of six kine. To John Wheatleigh, my son and heir, a chayne of gold, value £20 which I will to remain to my godson Nathaniel, so to remain to the heirs of the name and family. To son John also, my black gelding and trappings. To son Nathaniel and his wife Dorothy, each one cow. Daughter Hossington, one cow and one young beast. To daughter Annie Barker, one cow to remain to John Barker my godson. To daughter Olive Wheat- leigh, one cow. To son Frank, one cow, 20 CAve sheep and a ram. To my son Eichard Whately, 4 sheep. To my son Samuel Wheatleigh, one cow and 10 pounds a year to be paid out of Balwoodestone until said Samuel shall have the benefice of the parsonage of Tingsboro. To daughter Martha, 120 pounds and one cow. To my servant John Koberts, 4 sheep. To John Hall and John Sideham, servants, each an ewe sheep and lamb. To Heni-y, son of my brother Thomas Wheatly, two yearling beasts, and to my cousin, Richard Wheatly the remission of a cottage in Tingsboro. My wife Mary and Roger Wingate, my son-in-law, executors, son John to be overseer.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
11
THE WILL OF MARY W^EATLEIGH, WIDOW.
Body to be bimed by the side of my late husbjind, John Wlieatleigli, Esq. To son Frank, one cow. To bis wife auotber aud to bis (bxuj,^bter Dorotby, one cow. To my (biufj^bter Martba and Olive, each one cow. Residue of my effects to son Kicbard, sole executor.
"Witnesses. Jane Hossington, (alias Wbeatleifij'b) and "Wil- liam Panes.
In tbe visitations of Somerset at Somerset House in Lon- tlon are recorded tbe following cbildi-en of John "Wbeatley.
2. Jobn, b May 31, 1541,
3. Natbaniel, b June 1, 1549,
4. Annie, b October 20, 1553, m Rev. William Barker of
Berkshire and raised a large family. 5 Jane, b October lo, 1560, m Mr. Hossington of An-
dover and there was one daughter, Susan Hossington. (5. Frank, 1) March 1562, lived at Maiden Newton.
7. Richard, b May 3, 1565.
8. Samuel, b April 28, 1568.
9. Martha, b January, 1571, m 1592 to Roger Wingate.
1(». Olive, b 1573, m Mr. Barker. The Barkers were one of the most prominent families of Sonning for 300 years. They owning the tine estate of Holmes Park. 2 II 1 John AVheatleigh, Esq. of Tingsboro, Somerset, 1) May 31, 1547, m Dorothy Willoughby of Derbyshire, youngest daughter of Ai-ctic explorer, Hugh AVilloughby. She probably died be- fore 1609, for no mention is made of her in his will. He was one of the 164 gentlemen and sailors who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his free booting expedition to Spanish America and around the world, home via (^ape of Good Hope, arriving at Ply- mouth November 1580.
"Will of John "Wheatleigh Estj. of Tingsboro, filed at Carew, P. C. C. and dated May 7, 1609, is as follows:
The chain of gold tlisposed of l)y my father. John Wlicat- leighV will, shall succeed to our heirs. 'I'n my four younger
12 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
sons, Israel, Samuel, Philip and Andrew during their lives each £50 by the year, out of the rents of Lindenboro and Glenolden.
To my daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Margery £800, to be raised out of the rents of my manors, Sidglen and Maiden New- ton. To my daughter Mary, her mother's wedding ring.
To my brother, Frank Wheatleigh, the remission of a tene- ment in Maiden Newton. To my brother, Samuel Wheatleigh, the continuation for life of the living at Tingsboro. To my cousin, Edmund AVingate, my books on law and mathematics. Nathaniel my son and heir executor. John Skinner, clerk.
11. Nathaniel, b 1571, Knighted 1610, Sheriff 161G.
12. Israel, bapt. August 6, 1572.
13.. Elizabeth, bapt. December 18, 1574
14. Samuel, bapt. November 3, 1576, d at Bath, 1614.
15. Mary, bapt. August 24, 1578.
16. Philip, bapt. September 24, 1581.
17. Margaret, bapt. September 9, 1583.
18. Andrew, bapt. November 19, 1586. Signed
"Eound Robin" at Dieppe 1626.
3 II 1
Rev. Nathaniel Whately, b June 1, 1549, m Dorothy Gat- tonby. Matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford 1568, was Rector of Thraxton Hants, 1590.
CHILDREN or NATHANIEL AND DOROTHY WHATELY.
19. AVilliam, Bapt. April 3, 1583, d 1639. Puritan divine, aris-
ing to some distinction as a writer and preacher.
20. James, b 1586, followed the sea several years and like
Defoes, Col. Jack, wound up his checked career as a Virginia planter, being one of the expedition under Sir Thomas Gates which arrived at Jamestown, September 1611.
6 II 1
Frank Wheatleigh, b March 1562, m Mary Fienes grand- daughter of Lord Dacre, who was executed in 1541. Lived at Maiden Newton, Dorset. ,
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY. I'i
22. Dorothy, bapt. August 22, 1591.
23. Eicbard, bapt. January 4, 15!)r). ni and lived in Caen,
Normandy, where were boru the following six children: Annie, Elizabeth, Michael, Nathaniel (father of Rachel and Margaret), James and Rachel. Richard was a merchant of Caen, Normandy, in company with his brother John.
24. Edward, b about 1598, m Elizabeth Pii)er, having four
sons, John (b 1620), Edward, "Wilham and Michael.
25. John, merchant of Caen, France.
2G. Precilla, m Alden Mervj^n of East Knoyle, Wilts. 27. Magdalen, m Charles Polden of Hastings, Sussex.
7 II 1
Richard "Whately, b May 3, 15G5, and there is record of four children, Richard, Grace, Molly and Alexander "Whately. AVe know no reason why Nathaniel and Richard spelled their names as recorded.
8 II 1
Rev. Samuel Wheatleigh, b April 28, 15(18, was a B. A. of Magdalen College, Oxford, 159(>, and M. A. 155)8, m ^lartha Drake of Dorset. He was provided with the living of Tings- boro in his father's will, and was occupying the parsonage in 1(509. His will tiled at Wells is as follows: To son James my great chest and its contents; to my wife ^lartha the furnishings of our hving rooms; to be equally divided to the poor of Tings- boro; to sons Charles, Ira, Joseph and Oriu; to daughter ]\[ary Evans and her children, Rebecca, John and Charles; to daugh- ter Patience Hall and her childi-en, Sarah and Pho'be, and N.i- thaniel and Martha, children of John Evans. CHILDREN OF SAMUEL AND MARTHA WHE.VTLEKIH. 82. Apollos, ])!i])t. at Tiugsl)()ro, March 9, 159(;, liiiri<Ml May
9, 1590. 88. James, bai)t. at Tingsboro, Decemlier 25, 1599. Tn 1(188
went to New England, settled in AVetherstie'.d. Conn., and was a memlier of the Hartford Convention (Jann-
14 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
ary, 1G39), which adopted the Constitution that served for Connecticut Colony and State until 1818 (i^age 7).
34. Charles, Bapt. at Tingsboro, December 11, IfiOl. Lived
in Dorset, where he died in 1662.
35. John, Bapt. at Ting-sboro, September 6, 1603. Buried
June 4, 1605.
36. Ira, Bapt. at Tingsboro, January 1, 1609, a yoeman of
Stowey, Somerset. No issue. He willed his projjerty to his brother Joseph's children May 6, 1676.
37. Joseph, m Sarah Rawlins: was a Stowey, Somerset hus-
bandnifin, from whom descended a large family, that remained in Somerset. Will dated 3 July, 1675.
38. Orin. Home at Farnsborough, Somerset. No issue.
AVill gave all his property to the poor of the place.
39. Isaac. Prol^ably died young.
40. Mary, m John Evans. Childi'en named in her father's
will.
41. Patience, m William Hall. Children named in her fath-
er's will. Home at Hornblotten.
9 II 1
Martha Wheatleigh, b January 1571, m in 1592 to Roger Wingate, and lived at Kirkb' Moorside, Yorkshire. He was ap- pointed the Royal Treasurer of Virginia Colony for life. Their son Edmund AVingate, b 1593, was a lawyer and matehmatician. Wrote several books on mathematics, was a patron of Charles I., but deserted him to join the Parliament party under Cromwell.
11 III 2
Sir Nathaniel Wheatleigh, b at Tingsboro, Somerset, 1571. Entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1588. Knighted 1610, and married Precilla Throgmorton of Tortworth, Gloucester. Her father's sister was wife of Sir Walter Raleigh, and from Precilla's brother William Throgmorton descended a family of Avriters, one of whom was Sir John Courtney Throckmorton.
Sir Nathaniel was high sheriff of Somersetshire in 1616, making Woodcroft manor his home. His Nuncupative will.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY. Hi
dated April 11, 1G20, leaves to his son Nathaniel "Hillside," and to his four younger sous, Thomas, AVilham, Richard and John £500 a piece, to be raised out of the fai-ms Penwick and Wood- croft. The residue to his wife, Precilla "Wheatleigh.
Lady Precilla Throgmorton Wheatleigh's will, dated April 15, 1030, and tiled in Skvuner, P. C. C, is as follows: To my son Thomas the cup that was my father's (Sir Thomas Throg- morton), and he is to be executor. To sons "William, Richard and John, each to be paid £200 within six months after they aiTive at the age of 21 years. My brother. Sir William Throg- morton, as trustee, in the meantime is to send each to a good school and through Oxford. To my sister, the Lady Dale (widow of Sir Thomas), my wedding ring, my household goods and wearing apparel. 48. John, h 1598. Died voung.
44. Nathaniel, b 1000. It is difficult to see why the eldest
son, Nathaniel, left home. He became a London gold- smith, living at the White House on London Bridge. Died without issue, leaving a large estate to his four brothers.
45. Thomas, b 1(511.
4(). William, Bapt, Tingsboro, May 20, 1()14. Three children,
Thomas, b January 12, 1G42, Annie, b August 14, l()4r», Hannah, b May 8, 1048.
47. Richard, Bapt. Tingsboro September 14, 1015, Barber
Surgeon of London.
48. Bridget, Bapt. Tingsboro May 10, KJIT; d age 4 months.
49. John, Bapt. Tingsboro February 9, 1(519.
49 IV 11
Rev. John Wheatley, matriculated at Magdalen College. ( )x - ford, m Mar\' Maudley, who was from a large and prominent family of Somersetshire.
Was rector of (lately, Hants, in 1(>45. His Idvulty to Charles I. di-ew the displeasure of the Cromwell party mid lie was sequestered. Later making his home at Westhaiu, Hsscx. Evidently s])ent his declining years with liis yoiiiigcst son at
16 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
Battle, near Hastings, Sussex, where he died and was buried at Senlac Hill, December 4, 1()91.
Nuncupative will, dated October 8, 1691, made his son Wil- liam his heir, also giving £900 and household goods to daughter VCary, £300 each to his grandchildren, Hemy and James Fitz- roy; Marv and William Wheatley.
74. Charles, b 1640.
75. Mary, m Charles Fitzroy, and lived at Battle in 1685. 7(). Andrew was with Duke of Cleveland, under Earl of
Marlborough, at the capture of Dublin in 1689, and was killed at the attack on Cork, October 9, 1690. His son. Rev. Charles Wheatley, 1686-1742 noted clergy- man, published illustrations of the Book of Common Prayer. 77. William, b 1664 at Westham, Essex.
77 V 49
William Wheatley, Esq., of Streatley Manor, near Senlac Hill, was bailiff of Battle in 1705, m Mary Haynes of Bristol in 1685. He was engaged at Bristol in the manufacture of salt- peter; and apparently held crown contracts. After moving to Battle he started the manufacture of gunpowder, which in mod- ern times has become very extensive. He was kiiighted at Bat- tle 1710. ' 88. Mary, b 1687.
84. William, b 1(589.
85. Richard, b 1695.
84 VI 77
Dr. William Wheatley entered Magdalen College, Oxford, 1705, m Annie Waring of Belfast.
In 1720 William Wheatley was serving at the Dublin station as naval surgeon. At the time there were 76 ships in the British navy. And there are records of Surgeon Wheatley's transfer to other stations. He was with the fleet sent to the West Indies in 1727. But nothing can be learned from the records, although tradition claims that he died in the service about 1781. His
UETSEY P. WOOD WIIEATLEV. (seC p*;" 50)
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY. 17
family remained iu Dublin. John Whentley, his only son, en- tered Trinity College, Dublin, but left before the end of the first year, and was apprenticed to a shipmaster named Cliarles Gary. His mother had hoped to tit him to till a ])osition in the navy.
Cai)t. Gary sold his indenture to a farmer near Norwidi, Gonn , 1782.
From him sprung a large branch of the AVheatley family iu America.
8(). J2?in, b Dublin, November 15, 1718. H7. Jane, b Dublin, May 12, 1720. Died young. 88. Lucinda, b Dublin, September 1, 1723.
LIEUT. THOMAS WHEATLEY.
Thonuis Wheatley was evidently a brother of John "NVheat- leigh, whose genealogy we have traced down to (^apt. John AVheatley, the father of our branch of the family in America. I do not give wills, etc., in this line that Mr. Stevens furnished, but will preserve the line of descent, hoping it may be of some service to other l)ranches of the famil}'.
In Burke's visitations of 1(590 is traced the A\'heatley pedi- i^ree for five generations. In 1547 Thomas Wheatley owned Balwoodston, AVells, Somei-setshire. This estate evidently l)assed into the j^ossession of John about 1572, and Thomas moved to Sonning in Berkshire. He was father of nine chil- <lren.
2. Hem-y, 1) 15(50, had five children.
•I Grace, m Henry Parker of Surrey, near London.
4. France?, m James Bassett of Uley county, (Uoucester.
5. Jean, who died young.
(J. Lawrence, b 15G7, m Elizabeth Fennessy. He entered the navy in 1587, when Howard, Drake and Hawkins gathered the tieet to resist the Spanish Arnnuhi. He was in active service for 80 years, engaging in many battles
7. Thomas. Died young.
'^. Richard lived in Sonning, Berks. Had five children.
'•*. Katherine.
10. Waltei-. No records.
18 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
CHILDREN OF HENRY— 2 II 1.
11. Sir Harold Wheatley had six children, and died in 1677.
12 Maria, m Thomas Harbord of Sufton, county Hertford.
13. Mary, m Edwin Howe of So. O'Kenden, county Essex.
14. Joanna, m Roger Holmes of Berkshire.
CHILDREN OF RICHARD— 8 II 1.
15. William, b 1599. Had three children born at Waybill.
16. John had tkree childi'en (IV No. 28 John, No. 29 Mary,
No. 30 Joanna).
17. Joanna, Bai^t. at Reading 16U9, and No. 18 Martha.
CHILDREN OF SIR HAROLD— 11 III 2. Lived in Bedford.
19. Harold, b 1627. Three gii-ls (V No. 31 Sarah, No. 32
Elizabeth, No. 33 Martha).
20. William. Died 1697.
21. Sarah, and No. 22 Dorothy, died young.
23. Mary, m John Hand, August 12, 1664.
24. Susan, m George White. Home at Cholsey, Berkshire.
W^as a widow in 1700.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AVHEATLEY— 15 III 8.
25. Rev. AViUiam, Bapt. April 13, 1629, at Waybill, Hants.
Was rector of Upper Clatford, Hants 1664, where his six childi-en were born.
26. Mary, Bapt. at WayhiU, Hants, May, 1631.
27. Samuel, Bapt. at Waybill, Hants 1636. Had three chil-
dren, (V No. 39 Esther, No. 40 Christian, and No. 41 Timothy).
CHILDREN OF REV. WILLIAM WHEATLEY— 25 IV 15.
34. Richard, b at Upper Clatford, Hants 1664. Had three
children.
35. Lucy, b at Upper Clatford, Hants, May 24, 1667.
36. Dorothy, b at Upper Clatford, Hants, November 5, 1671.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
r.i
37. Xatliauiel, b at Upper Clatfonl, Hants, December (J, 1(h.'{.
Had foiir childi-en;
38. Sybil, 1) at Upper Clatford, Hunts, Apiil Id, KhS.
CHILDREN OF RICHARD WHEATLEY— 84 V '25. 4-2. Eliza, b l(ii)0. m John Haynes of Bristol. 48. Richard, b H\9'2, Barber Surgeon of Loudon. Had
seven cbildi'en.
44. Katherine, b 1000.
CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL WHEATLEY— 87 V 2".. 4"). Nathaniel, and No. 40 Joseph. Both (bed young.
47. Alice, ni Heniy Black of Paddington, i\Ii<hllese.x.
45. Jane.
CHILDREN OF RICHARD WHEATLEY— 48 VI 84,
411. George, b Decenilier, 1710, at London.
50. John, b January 2, 1722, at London. Entered a Mer-
chant Tailor school 1788, went to Boston, Mass., Bay Colony, 1745, but returned in 1774, lecause of loyalty to the British crown.
51. ^lartha, No 52 Nathaniel, No. 58 Susan, No. 54 Isabelle,
No. 55 Jonathan; all born in London.
Captain John Wheatley.
Father of the New England Branch of the Wheat= ley Family in America.
John Wheatley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1718; died in Lebanon, N. H., July 30, 1786. He and his widow were buried in an early selected burying ground, on a hill southeast of the i^resent village of West Lebanon, N. H. A Bible given him by his mother in 1732 — at which time he was 14 years of age — is now in existence. His father was a surgeon in the British navy, where he died in 1731. His mother and a younger sister resided in Dublin, where he was kept in school until 14 years old, when, as his mother intended him for the navy, he was bound to the commander of a vessel for the term of seven years, thus fitting him to be a mariner. The commander agTeed to take him to Dublin to see his mother once each year.
They sailed directly to America, landing at New London or Norwich, Conn. The captain perfidiously sold his indentures to a farmer in that vicinitv, with whom John was bound to remain until he attained his majority. Here, at first, he suffered much hardship, not being accustomed to physical labor. However, it is beheved that he remained with this farmer until the expira- tion of the indentui'e, and that he received as kind treatment as could be expected. It is related that on sending him to school the teacher returned word that he could not instruct a pupil so advanced.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY. 21
John soon began teaching school himself, and followed the sea during intervals between terms. He intended saihng to England to visit his relatives, but never found it convenient, Finally business associations and family ties completely weaned him from his old home. In 1742 he married Submit Peck Cooke, widow of Aai'on Cooke, daughter of Benjamin Peck, a wealthy resident of Franklin, Conn. Her brother, Capt. Bela Peck, was father of Harriet Peck "Williams, who gave the Peck Memorial Library to Norwich, Conn. Judge A. Huntington said of Capt. John "Wheatley: "He was of plain manners and of incorrupt- ible integrity. His few words w-ere always those of good sense and truth. The weight of his influence was given to the best interests of society. He was an able and courageoous soldier. " He commanded a company in the French war during the campaign at the North in 1759, when Ticonderoga, Crown Point and other forts in that vicinity were captured by the English.
A powder horn, curiously wrought, presented to him by an Indian chief, is now among the family relics. This horn is seventeen inches long and ten inches in circumference at the largest point. Engi-aved around the lower end of it are the words, "Capt. John Wheatley, Crown Point, October ye 8d, 1759," in well formed letters surrounded V)y an ornamental bor- der. Immediately above this is represented New York bay> with Hudson river emi^tying into it, with its course wind- ing around nearly the whole length of the horn. East of the mouth of the Hudson river, and between it and Long Island and the Sound, stands the city of New York, finely exe- cuted, and embracing about forty houses with several church spires rising from their midst, some surmounted with the figure of a cock and others with a cross. Upon the west of the river, a little lower down, stands another city, smaller yet equally well built, marked "Amboy." South of New York city is marked "Rhode Island," now known as Staten Island. Along the Hud- son are scattered farm houses until a collection is designated as "Greenbush." Near the mouth of the Mohawk we find the city of Albany, constructed like that of New York. On the right liaiik of the Mohawk are two l)uildings marked "H. M." — half
22 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
moon. A little further north is a fort marked "Stillwater," where his son Luther died eighteen years later, after being wounded in the battle of Bemis Heights. On a small stream tributary to the Hudson from the west, stands Fort Saratoga; north of this is a fort marked "F. E." — Fort Edward. Directly west is seen Lake Geoige, containing many small islands and a blooj) under full sail. Lake Chamj^lain is but partly shown, merely enough to designate the situation of two forts; one marked '-Crown Point" and the other "Ticonderoga." South of Crown Point is a large fort unnamed, probably meant for Fort Ann. We turn to the Mohawk valley and find first the city of Schenectady, containing some fifteen houses. Upon the opj)osite bank, a little to the west, stands Fort Johnson, while opposite this is Fort Hunter. Forts Edward and Crown Point have the English fiag spread to the breeze, and within the walls we have a birds-eye view of the barracks for the soldiers, houses, and all the internal defences of such a place. Upon the upper part of the horn is an animal represented with the head of a unicorn and the body of a lion, with one hind leg chained to the collar about its neck. This was probably taken from the family coat- of-arms. The letters "J. W.," tastefully wrought in scrolls, oc- cupy the rest of this curious relic of fine Indian work.
During the French war Spain had become an ally of France, and in 1761 an English force of ten thousand men was sent to cai^ture Havana, Cuba. A Spanish force of twenty-seven thou- sand soldiers and a large squadron in the harbor withstood the attack.
From military orders and state papers of Massachusetts and Connecticut we find that Capt. John Wheatley, with a company of marines from Connecticut, joined the expedition against Havana, commanded by Gen. Phineas Lpnan, with Lieutenant- Colonel Israel Putnam of Danvers, Mass., in charge of marines from Connecticut. He was Capt. Wheatley 's immediate superior officer. Before the expedition returned Capt. Wheatley became pa;)Tmaster of the Colonial trooj^s. His family, except John Wheatley 2d, who accomi^anied him to Cuba, lived in Boston during their absence, (from 1760 to 1762).
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY. 23
The troops fi-oiu Massacliusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, to the number of twenty-three hvincb'ed, sailed iVom New York alxiiit the middle of ^lay in foiu'teen trans])()rts. They joined the English forces before Havana July 20, hikI entered into the thick of the tight, which resulted in the fall of the city August 14, 17(52. But disease had worked greater havoc than Spanish bullets, and there were scarcely tifty Colon- ial troops left. All came back on one ship. The prize money resulting fi-om the capture, and di\-ided among the soldiers and sailors, amounted to over $7,()()(),0()(). Capt. "NVheatley cb-ew $1185.24. Some of the English officers pocketed over $()()(>,(><•<> apiece.
His family lived in Boston, Mass., and Norwich, Conn., until after the close of the French wai*, 17(53, when in the spiing of 17(!o they moved, except Mary and John "NVheatley 2d, to Lebanon, N. H. On this journey he cut a hickory cane, which has been preserved, headed and marked "L. W.," and remains in the possession of the descendants of Luther "Wheatley.
Captain "Wheatley was the first man to fix his habitation amidst the lofty pines on the plains where since has risen the ])leasant and fiouinshing ^-illage of Lebanon Centre. He was moderator of the tu-st town meeting held there, Sept. 12, 17G5; the first town clerk, which office he held for nearly twenty yeju's; the tii-st civil magistrate, the first schoolmaster, of whom many anecdotes are told showing his fertile originality in developing the best qualities of his pui)i]s; the first representative of Lebanon in the New Hampshire Legislature, and the first and only rejiresentative of Lebanon in the Vennont Legislatiu-e, at the time the sixteen border towns gave allegiance to Vermont. He was clerk ofrt company of proprietors of Lebanon in 17(55; and in 178(5 drew up a petition to the New Hamjjshire Legisla- ture, asking for a new charter to replace their first one, that had been jmrtially destroj-ed by mice. He acted as diainnan ot the legislative committee on boundaries, October 3, 17()H; was nj)- pointed justice of the peace for (irafton county, Se])tember 5, 1774, and reappointed A])ril M, 177'.>, and October'). 178."). He
24 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
served as a member of the Vermont Legislature in 1777, but withdi-ew October 22, 1778. At a convention of committees from the several towns on the grants east of the Connecticut river, held June 24, 1778, John Wheatley was chairman of a committee selected to receive and adjust claims for services done in preparing- and comijleting the union with the State of Ver- mont. His name was signed to several documents relative to the dispute concerning the jurisdiction over the New Hampshire grants east of the Connecticut river, during the year 1782. A petition was drawn uj) and circulated by Capt. John Wheatlej', dated June 10, 1782, in regard to the establishing of a boundary between Lebanon and Enfield.
In a Thanksgiving sermon preached by Rev. Phineas Cooke, the pastor of Lebanon Congregational Church, November 30? 1850, giving a civil and ecclesiastical history of the town, he says: "Were I to single out a man to whom this town, in its early days, was especially indebted for his exertions in its behalf, I would name John Wheatley, Esq."
He did not serve in the revolutionary army, but sent his four sons. Two, John and Luther, were killed fighting for the indejiendence of theii' country. He died at Lebanon, N. H., in 1786, of a violent fever, being G7 years of age. His widow survived him several years.
To all his acknowledged qualifications for public or private life was added pieij and such religious gifts as made him a suit- able jjerson to lead in the meetings of the church in the absence of the minister. True to a prominent Wheatley characteristic, he put sj^irit, energy and perseverance into every enterprise with which he was connected.
SEVEN CHILDKEN, SIX BORN IN NORWICH, CONN.
2. Mary Wheatley, b 1743, d Norwich, Conn., 1778.
3. John Wheatley, b 1748. Killed in battle near Brooklyn,
N. Y., 16th September, 1776.
THE WHEATLEY GENEALOtiV. 25
4. Aiicliew Wbeatley, b lOtb August, 1750; d Hiirdwick, Vt.,
7th July, 1S3G.
5. Niitbiuiiel Wbeatley, b 21st May, 1752; d BrookHcUl, Vt.,
2(;tli July, 1824!
T). Lucinda AVbeatley, b December, 1755; d Lebauou, N. H.. i>tb May, 1885).
7. Lytb'a "NVheatley, b 27tb January, 1758; d Lebanon, N. H.
8. Lutber AVbeatley, b Boston, 17<;0; d Stillwater, X. Y.,
80tb September, 1777.
In tbe American Encyclopoedia is the followin<]f article: "Pbillis AVbeatley, a negro poetess, born in Africa in 1755, died in Boston, Mass., December 5, 1794. She was brought to Bos- ton in 17(51, and bought by Mrs. John Wheatley, who, noting remarkable exhibitions of intellectual powers and a thirst for books in her servant, set to work to educate her. At the age of 1!) Miss Phillis visited England, where she jjublished a work under the following title: 'Poems on Various Subjects, Be!ig- ious and Moral, by Phillis "NVheatley, negro servant of Mrs. John AVheatley of Boston, New England.' She received marked notice from Gen. George Washington for poems she ^^Tote of many of his acts in public life."
There seems to be no doubt that Miss Phillis' mistress was the wife of Capt. John AVheatley.
2 II 1
MarA' Wheatley was married in 1771, at her brother .John's home in Norwich, Conn., to Rev. John Lcthrop; b at Norwich, Conn., in 1789; d in Boston, 9th of April, 177G, and was buried in the Old Granery Graveyard, Boston. On his headstone is the following: "Here lies ye body of John Lothrop, aged about 40 years. Died April ye 9th, 177()." He gi-aduated from Prince- ton College in 17(j8, and was pastor of tlie Second, or Old North Church, Boston, Mass., from 17(58 until his death. Mary, liis widow, died two years later in Norwich, Conn., without olT- sj)ring. He was probably an actor in the ilrama that b-d to
26 THE WHEATLEY GENEALOGY.
Paul Revere's ride. After Caj^tain Wheatley's family moved to New Hamj^shire, Pliillis, the negress whom Mrs. Wheatley had l^urchased and began to educate, lived in the Lothrop family. This gave the dusky poetess the advantages of higher education, under the eye of a college graduate. ,
3 II 1
Lieut. John Wheatley accomjDanied his father on the expe- dition against Havana, Cuba, in 1702, and drew about ($17.50) seventeen and a half dollars of prize money. In 1766 he mar- ried Jane Cooke of Bozrah, Conn., at which place they lived for a while. Two years later they were living at a place called "Coase," and in 1770 were living east of the Green at Norwich. By old issues of the Packet we find he had a boot and shoe shop near the Packet oflfice, where he made the best of goods, "good work and quick dispatch being the cardinal points of his com- pass." The next year he moved into the Peck Tavern, across the Green. In the big elm, known as the "Liberty Tree," front of the tavern, was arranged a bower among the branches, sup- plied with tables and seats for dinner parties and speech-making to the people on the Green. This was connected with an upper window of the tavern by a plank walk. "Here Landlord Wheat- ley entertained General Washington at dinner when en route to Boston, thus winning a point over his rival, Joseph Peck, who kept the Lothroj) Inn across the Green."
June 20, 1776, he was commissioned second lieutenant of Capt. Joshua Huntington's company, in Col. Samuel Selden's Connecticut regiment. He was wounded and taken prisoner (reported "killed or taken") in